Queen’s Day Belgian/Dutch Beer Tasting (Sat 4/26)

This is a story of how our trusty reviewer learned to take a note pad and pen with him to the tastings….

I had a Stone double IPA on Saturday called 4 20 2014, very good and compliments what it is named for…

— Ed K

. . . or at minimum to make notes immediately upon returning home. BTW, I emphatically deny that I had too much beer to remember what I tasted. IIRC.

I think I had the previous “vintage” in that series. It’s an interesting idea, and is indeed very fresh. OK, what is it named for, other than the date itself?

My favorite among recent brews is Gulden Drakk, a powerful Dark Tripel, powerful in both richness of flavor and ABV (10.5%). I’ve had that twice recently. It’s a somewhat expensive vice.

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OK, your trusty reviewer attempts to redeem himself by writing to the Growler & Gill, and receiving a prompt response:

The quad and bock are from La Trappe and the Saison from Urthel. Unfortunately the bock isn’t sold in bottles.

As it happens, I would have been able to give you the first because I just checked and I brought home a bottle of the quad, as well as the big bottle of the Karmelite. So maybe I’ll expand my review of the quad, though tonight I’m in the IPA camp, sipping a Burton Baton, one of the best IPAs around. It has as much flavor as the big Belgians accompanied by a good bolt of hops, not citrusy but rather more earthy and herbal. Speaking of Stone, I have a Levitation from them waiting for me; maybe that will follow the Burton Baton.